High power rf switches using multiple optimized transistors

ABSTRACT

An RF switch includes series-connected transistors having different threshold voltages, breakdown voltages and on-resistances, without relying on different channel lengths to provide these differences. A first set of transistors located near a power amplifier output are fabricated to have first channel regions with relatively high dopant concentrations. A second set of transistors located near an antenna input, are fabricated to have second channel regions with relatively low dopant concentrations. The first set of transistors can also include halo implants to increase the dopant concentrations in the first channel regions. Lightly doped drain (LDD) regions of the first set of transistors can have a lower dopant concentration (and be shallower) than LDD regions of the second set of transistors. Transistors in the first set have a relatively high on-resistance, a relatively high breakdown voltage and a relatively high threshold voltage, when compared with transistors in the second set.

RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional ApplicationSer. No. 62/173,289, filed Jun. 9, 2015, which is incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a semiconductor structure, such as aradio frequency (RF) switch that includes a plurality of interconnectedfield effect transistors having similar channel lengths, but differenton-resistances, breakdown voltages and/or threshold voltages.

RELATED ART

Stacked transistors for RF (“radio frequency”) switches are used in, forexample, cellular front end modules and other wireless devices. Whenswitching RF power in a cellular telephone, changes in impedance of theantenna, for example, due to a user touching the antenna, can result inlarge current and voltage swings in the RF switch branches that receivea power amplifier output to drive the antenna.

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of an RF switch branch 100 that includesfour exemplary n-channel field effect transistors 101-104 connected incascade (i.e., in series). The gates of transistors 101, 102, 103 and104 are coupled to receive a switch enable signal (EN) via correspondingresistors R1, R2, R3 and R4, as illustrated. Although 12 to 30 or moretransistors are typically connected in series to form an RF switchbranch 100, only four transistors are shown in FIG. 1 to provide asimple example. A power amplifier 110 drives the switch branch 100 ofthe four stacked transistors 101-104 at power amplifier output node 111,while an antenna 120 receives the signals transmitted through the switchbranch at antenna input node 121. Typically, the stacked transistors101-104 in the RF switch branch 100 support an operating voltage ofabout 40 to 70 volts. That is, a voltage differential of about 40 to 70Volts is developed across the power amplifier output 111 and the antennainput 121 during normal operation of the RF switch branch 100.

As known in the art, to support a higher voltage swing between poweramplifier output 111 and antenna input 121, a larger number oftransistors can be stacked in the RF switch branch 100. However, as moretransistors are stacked in the RF switch branch 100, the resistancebetween the power amplifier output 111 and the antenna input 121increases, thereby resulting in an undesirable increase in “insertionloss” in the RF switch branch 100.

As illustrated by FIG. 1, parasitic capacitances C2, C3 and C4 existbetween the source/drain nodes of transistors 101-104 and ground. FIG. 2is a cross sectional view of exemplary silicon-on-insulator (SOI)transistors 101 and 102 of RF switch branch 100. Identical transistors101 and 102 are fabricated in a silicon layer 206 in a manner known inthe art. Silicon layer 206 is located on buried oxide (BOX) layer 204,which in turn, is located on handle wafer 202. During normal operationof the RF switch branch 100, handle wafer 202 is grounded or providesthe lowest impedance path to circuit ground. FIG. 2 illustratesseries-connected capacitors C22 and C24, which are situated respectivelyin the buried oxide layer 204 and the handle wafer 202 in the SOI(silicon-on-insulator) structure. Capacitors C22 and C34 give rise tothe parasitic capacitances C2, C3 and C4 of FIG. 1. The combined effectof the parasitic capacitances C2, C3 and C4 in the RF switch branch 100is that the voltages across the transistors 101-104 are not uniformlydistributed. In fact, transistor 101 will experience a larger VDS (drainto source voltage) than transistor 104 during the normal operation of RFswitch branch 100. For example, transistor 101 may exhibit a VDS ofabout 4.0 Volts, while transistor 104 may exhibit a VDS of about 1.2Volts.

In the design of the RF switch branch 100, each of the identicaltransistors 101-104 must be capable of sustaining the highest possibleVDS voltage (in the present example, about 4.0 Volts), even though manyof the transistors in the RF switch branch 100 will experience a muchlower VDS voltage. Using transistors with the highest possible VDSvoltage therefore results in undesirable “over-engineering”. Moreover,transistors capable of handling higher VDS voltages will exhibit higheron-resistances, thereby resulting in an increased resistance of the RFswitch branch 100 (and increased insertion loss).

One known approach to overcome the above-described deficiencies of RFswitch branch 100 is to increase the channel length of transistors inthe high side of the stack (i.e., near the power amplifier output node111) to support higher VDS voltages, and reduce the channel length oftransistors in the low side of the stack (i.e., near the antenna inputnode 121) to support lower VDS voltages. However, the characteristics ofthe transistor do not change linearly as the channel length of thetransistor is reduced. For example, the tradeoff between the transistorVDS voltage and the transistor on-resistance is non-linear. Gate-induceddrain leakage current (GIDL) can also limit voltage handling capabilityand this limitation is not increased with longer channel length. Thus,the behavior of the transistors is not easily controlled by adjustingthe channel length of the transistors.

It would therefore be desirable to have an improved RF switch branchwhich overcomes the above-described deficiencies.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, the present invention provides improved methods forproviding transistors in an RF switch branch with different thresholdvoltages, breakdown voltages and on-resistances, without relying only ondifferent channel lengths to provide these differences. In oneembodiment, a first set of transistors of the RF switch branch, whichare located near a power amplifier output terminal, are fabricated tohave channel regions with a relatively high dopant concentration, and asecond set of transistors of the RF switch branch, which are locatednear an antenna input node, are fabricated to have channel regions witha relatively low dopant concentration. The transistors in the first andsecond sets have similar channel lengths. Under these conditions,transistors in the first set have a relatively high on-resistance, arelatively high breakdown voltage and a relatively high thresholdvoltage, when compared with transistors in the second set.

In one embodiment, the channel regions of the first and second sets oftransistors can be doped before the formation of the transistor gateelectrodes. In an alternate embodiment, the channel regions of the firstset of transistors are subjected to a halo implant after the formationof the transistor gate electrodes, wherein the halo implant increasesthe dopant concentration in the channel regions of the transistors inthe first set.

In another embodiment, the first set of transistors are fabricated usinga lightly doped drain (LDD) implant process having a relatively lowdosage and a relatively high implant energy (thereby forming relativelydeep LDD regions having relatively low dopant concentrations), and thesecond set of transistors are fabricated using a LDD implant processhaving a relatively high dosage and a relatively low implant energy(thereby forming relatively shallow LDD regions having relatively highdopant concentrations). Under these conditions, transistors in the firstset have a relatively high on-resistance, a relatively high powerhandling capability (owing to lower GIDL current) and a relatively highthreshold voltage, when compared with transistors in the second set.

Various combinations of the above-described embodiments can be used tofabricate the first and second sets of transistors.

The present invention will be more fully understood in view of thefollowing description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of a conventional RF switch branch.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating two of the transistorsof the conventional RF switch branch of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram including a power amplifier, an antenna andan RF switch branch in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E are cross-sectional views of a high endtransistor and a low end transistor of the RF switch of FIG. 3 duringvarious phases of fabrication in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D and 5E are cross-sectional views of a high endtransistor and a low end transistor of the RF switch of FIG. 3 duringvarious phases of fabrication in accordance with another embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a high end transistor and a low endtransistor of the RF switch of FIG. 3 in accordance with yet anotherembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating eight possible transistorconstructions using the methods of FIGS. 4A-4E and 5A-5E, ranked fromthe low on-resistance/VDS breakdown voltage/threshold voltage to highon-resistance/VDS breakdown voltage/threshold voltage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description contains specific information pertaining toimplementations in the present disclosure. The drawings in the presentapplication and their accompanying detailed description are directed tomerely exemplary implementations. Unless noted otherwise, like orcorresponding elements among the figures may be indicated by like orcorresponding reference numerals. Moreover, the drawings andillustrations in the present application are generally not to scale, andare not intended to correspond to actual relative dimensions.

The present inventive concepts resolve problems in the art by creating ahigh power/high resistance transistor, and a low power/low resistancetransistor in the same semiconductor processing platform for use in, forexample, an RF switch branch that benefits from the use of transistorsof both types (i.e., both high power (high VDS breakdown) transistorsand low power (low VDS breakdown) transistors. Each type of transistorhas some adjustability to better control the need for higher VDSbreakdown voltage transistors at the high end of the RF switch stack andlower VDS breakdown voltage transistors at the low end of the RF switchstack. This is accomplished by, for example, a unique technique forcustomizing the body implants for the different transistor types so thatthe higher power transistors receive a higher body doping and achieve ahigher threshold voltage, while the lower power transistors receive alower body doping and achieve a lower threshold voltage.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram including a power amplifier 110, an antenna120 and an RF switch branch 300 in accordance with one embodiment of thepresent invention. Power amplifier 110 and antenna 120 are conventionalelements that have been described above in connection with FIG. 1. RFswitch branch 300 includes a first set of field effect transistors 301Hand a second set of field effect transistors 301L, which are connectedin series between the power amplifier output node 111 and the antennainput node 121. The first set of transistors 301H include individualtransistors 310 and 311, which are located nearer to power amplifieroutput node 111 than antenna input node 121 (i.e., nearer to the highend of the RF switch branch 300). The second set of transistors 301Linclude individual transistors 312 and 313, which are located nearer toantenna input node 121 than power amplifier output node 111 (i.e.,nearer to the low end of the RF switch branch 300). Although the firstset of transistors 301H includes two transistors 310-311, and the secondset of transistors 301L includes two transistors 312-313 in thedescribed examples, it is understood that the first set of transistors301H and the second set of transistors 301L may include other numbers oftransistors in other embodiments. For example, the first set oftransistors 301H and the second set of transistors 301L may each includeX transistors, wherein X>2. In another embodiment, the first set oftransistors 301H may include Y transistors, and the second set oftransistors 301L may include Z transistors, wherein Y is not equal to Z.

In addition to transistors 310-314, RF switch branch 300 includesresistors R1-R4 and parasitic capacitances C2-C4, which have beendescribed above in connection with FIG. 1.

As described in more detail below, transistors 311-314 havesubstantially identical channel lengths, transistors 310-311 includedoped regions that cause these transistors to exhibit relatively highon-resistances, high breakdown voltages and high threshold voltages, andtransistors 312-313 include one or more doped regions that cause thesetransistors to exhibit relatively low on-resistances, low breakdownvoltages and low threshold voltages. This design advantageously allowsthe first set of transistors 301H to exhibit characteristics compatiblewith operating conditions present at the high end of the RF switchbranch 300, and allows the second set of transistors 301L to exhibitcharacteristics compatible with operating conditions present at the lowend of the RF switch branch 300.

The fabrication of the first set of transistors 301H and the second setof transistors 310L will now be described in more detail. In theexamples provided below, transistor 311 represents each of thetransistors included in the first set of transistors 301H, andtransistor 312 represents each of the transistors included in the secondset of transistors 301L.

FIGS. 4A-4E are cross sectional views of the high end transistor 311 andthe low end transistor 312 during various phases of fabrication inaccordance with various embodiments of the present invention. High endtransistor 311 is fabricated in region 401 _(H), and low end transistor312 is fabricated in region 401 _(L). In the described examples,transistors 311-312 are silicon on insulator (SOI) transistors.

FIG. 4A illustrates a silicon layer 412 in which the transistors 311-312are fabricated. Silicon layer 412 is located on a buried oxide (BOX)layer 411, which in turn, is located on a handle wafer 410. Siliconlayer 412 and BOX layer 411 can be formed in various manners known tothose of ordinary skill. In the described embodiment, transistors311-312 are re-channel transistors. The body region 413 of low endtransistor 312 is doped, for example, to a concentration of about1.0*10¹⁷ atoms per cm³, using a P-type dopant such as Boron. This dopingof body region 413 can be accomplished in various manners. For example,the doping of body region 413 can be established during the formation ofsilicon layer 412 (e.g., during epitaxial growth of silicon layer 412).In this embodiment, both the body region 413 of low end transistor 312and the body region 414 of high end transistor 311 initially have thesame body dopant concentration (about 1.0*10¹⁷ atoms per cm³).

In another embodiment, a body doping implant is performed, wherein aP-type dopant is implanted into body region 413 through an implant mask.Such an implant mask may expose both of regions 401 _(L) and 401 _(H),such that the body region 413 of low end transistor 312 and the bodyregion 414 of high end transistor 311 initially have the same bodydopant concentration (about 1.0*10¹⁷ atoms per cm³).

In yet another embodiment, the implant mask exposes region 401L, butcovers region 401H, such that body region 413 of low end transistor 312is doped to the specified dopant concentration (about 1.0*10¹⁷ atoms percm³), and body region 414 of high end transistor 311 is not doped by theinitial body implant.

As illustrated by FIG. 4B, an implant 416 is performed such that thebody region 414 of high end transistor 311 is doped, for example to aconcentration of about 1.5*10¹⁷ atoms per cm³, using a P-type dopantsuch as Boron. The dopant concentration of body region 414 is higherthan the dopant concentration of body region 413, thereby causing theresulting high end transistor 311 (which is fabricated in body region414) to have a higher on-resistance, higher breakdown voltage, andhigher threshold voltage than the resulting low end transistor 312(which is fabricated in body region 413). In the illustrated embodiment,an implant mask 415 is formed over silicon layer 412, wherein theimplant mask 415 covers region 401 _(L) and exposes region 401 _(H). Thedosage and energy of the implant is selected to cause the body region414 to exhibit the desired dopant concentration (of about 1.5*10¹⁷ atomsper cm³). Note that these parameters will be dependent on the previous(initial) dopant concentration of body region 414.

As illustrated by FIG. 4C, implant mask 415 is stripped, and a gatedielectric layer 420 is formed over the upper surface of silicon layer412. In one embodiment, gate dielectric layer is silicon oxide having athickness of about 50 Angstroms. Other gate dielectric materials andthicknesses can be used in other embodiments. Polysilicon gateelectrodes 421 and 422 (of transistors 311 and 312, respectively) areformed over gate dielectric layer 420. A first lightly doped drain (LDD)implant mask 425 is formed over region 401H, wherein an opening in LDDimplant mask 425 exposes region 401L. An N-type LDD implant 430 isperformed through LDD implant mask 425, thereby forming the LDD regions431-432 of low end transistor 312.

In general, the VDS breakdown voltage of a transistor can be separatelyor further controlled by selectively controlling the doping of LDDregions of the transistor. LDD regions having a relatively high dopingconcentration and a relatively shallow implant depth (i.e., a lowerenergy implant) will result in the corresponding transistor having arelatively low resistance, a relatively low threshold voltage and arelatively low VDS breakdown voltage. Conversely, LDD regions having arelatively low doping concentration and a relatively deep implant depth(i.e., a higher energy implant) will result in the correspondingtransistor having a relatively high on-resistance, a relatively highthreshold voltage and a relatively high VDS breakdown voltage. Thus, inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the high endtransistor 311 is fabricated with LDD regions having a relatively lowdoping concentration and a relatively deep implant depth, and the lowend transistor 312 is fabricated with LDD regions having a relativelyhigh doping concentration and a relatively shallow implant depth.

Thus, in the example of FIG. 4C, the N-type LDD implant 430 performedthrough implant mask 425 to form the LDD regions 431-432 of low endtransistor 312 is performed by implanting Arsenic at a relatively highdosage of about 1.0*10¹⁵ atoms per cm² (resulting in a doping profile ofabout 1.3*10¹⁹ atoms per cm³) and a relatively low energy of about 5.0KEV (to achieve a relatively shallow implant). The resulting LDD regions431-432 cause the corresponding low end transistor 312 to have arelatively low VDS breakdown voltage (when compared to high endtransistor 311).

As illustrated by FIG. 4D, LDD implant mask 425 is stripped, and asecond LDD implant mask 435 is formed over the resulting structure. Morespecifically, the second LDD implant mask 435 is formed over region 401_(L) wherein an opening in the second LDD implant mask 435 exposesregion 401 _(H). An N-type LDD implant 440 is performed through thesecond LDD implant mask 435, thereby forming the LDD regions 441-442 ofhigh end transistor 311.

In the example of FIG. 4D, the N-type LDD implant 440 performed throughimplant mask 435 to form the LDD regions 441-442 of high end transistor311 is performed by implanting Arsenic at a relatively low dosage ofabout 4.0*10¹⁴ atoms per cm² (resulting in a doping profile of about5.0*10¹⁸ atoms per cm³) and a relatively high energy of about 20.0 KEV(to achieve a relatively deep implant). The resulting LDD regions441-442 cause the corresponding high end transistor 311 to have arelatively high VDS breakdown voltage (when compared to low endtransistor 312).

Although the formation of LDD regions 431-432 is described as occurringbefore the formation of LDD regions 441-442, it is understood that theorder of forming these LDD regions can be reversed in other embodiments.

As illustrated in FIG. 4E, the second LDD implant mask 435 is stripped,and fabrication of the transistors 311-312 is completed by formingconventional structures including dielectric sidewall spacers 461-464and N-type source/drain regions 471-473.

FIGS. 5A-5E are cross sectional views of the high end transistor 311 andthe low end transistor 312 during various phases of fabrication inaccordance with an alternate embodiment of the present invention.Similar elements in FIGS. 4A-4E and 5A-5E are labeled with similarreference numbers.

FIG. 5A illustrates a silicon layer 512 in which the transistors 311-312are fabricated. Silicon layer 512 is doped, for example, to aconcentration of about 1.0*10¹⁷ atoms per cm³, using a P-type dopantsuch as Boron. In this embodiment, both the body region 513 of low endtransistor 312 and the body region 514 of high end transistor 311initially have the same body dopant concentration (about 1.0*10¹⁷ atomsper cm³).

As illustrated by FIG. 5B, gate dielectric layer 420 is formed over theupper surface of silicon layer 512. Polysilicon gate electrodes 421 and422 (of transistors 311 and 312, respectively) are formed over gatedielectric layer 420 in the manner described above in connection withFIG. 4C. The first lightly doped drain (LDD) implant mask 425 is formedover region 401H, and an N-type LDD implant 430 is performed through LDDimplant mask 425, in the manner described above in connection with FIG.4C. As a result, LDD regions 431-432 of low end transistor 312 areformed in silicon layer 512, wherein these LDD regions 431-432 have adoping profile of about 1.3*10¹⁹ atoms per cm³ (and a relatively shallowimplant depth).

As illustrated by FIG. 5C, LDD implant mask 425 is stripped, and thesecond LDD implant mask 435 is formed over the resulting structure inthe manner described above in connection with FIG. 4D. The N-type LDDimplant 440 is performed through the second LDD implant mask 435 in themanner described above in connection with FIG. 4D, thereby forming theLDD regions 441-442 of high end transistor 311. As a result, LDD regions441-442 of high end transistor 311 are formed in silicon layer 512,wherein these LDD regions 4341-442 have a doping profile of about5.0*10¹⁸ atoms per cm³ (and a relatively deep implant depth).

As illustrated in FIG. 5D, the second LDD implant mask 435 is also usedas a halo implant mask, wherein the high end transistor 311 receiveshalo implants through the second LDD implant mask 435. As described inmore detail below, the halo implants provide further control of the VDSbreakdown voltages of the high end transistors of the RF switch branch300. Advantageously, the halo implants are performed after the gateelectrodes 421-422 have been defined, thereby allowing the halo implantsto be precisely aligned with the gate electrodes 421-422. The haloimplants have an opposite conductivity type as the LDD implants.

In the example of FIG. 5D, angled halo implants 550 are performed onboth sides of the transistor (i.e., on the source side and the drainside). In the described example, the halo implants are performed byimplanting Boron at an angle of about 30 degrees (from vertical), at anenergy of about 30 KEV and a dose of about 5.0*10¹³ atoms per cm²,resulting in halo regions 451-452 having a doping profile of about1.5*10¹⁷ atoms per cm³. The halo implants effectively change the dopingof body region 514, increasing the on-resistance, VDS breakdown voltageand threshold voltage of the associated high end transistor 311.

Although the examples described above implement the LDD implant of thehigh end transistor 311 before the halo implant of the high endtransistor 311, it is understood that the order of these implants can bereversed in other embodiments.

As illustrated in FIG. 5E, the second LDD implant mask 435 is stripped,and fabrication of the transistors 311-312 is completed by formingconventional structures including dielectric sidewall spacers 461-464and N-type source/drain regions 471-473.

In the examples described above, the high end transistor 311 receiveseither the separate body implant 416 (FIGS. 4A-4E), or the halo implants550 (FIGS. 5A-5E). Fabricating the high end transistor 311 using onlythe separate body implant 416 (and not the halo implants 550)advantageously results in a more uniform doping of the body region 414.Conversely, fabricating the high end transistor 311 using only the haloimplants 550 (and not the separate body implant 416) advantageouslyeliminates the requirement for the additional mask 415 (note that anadditional mask is not required for halo implants 550, as these implantsuse the same mask 435 as the LDD implants 450).

In other embodiments, the high end transistor 311 may receive both ofthe separate body implant 416 and the halo implants 550. FIG. 6 is across sectional view of transistors 311-312 in accordance with anembodiment that includes the separate body implant 416 of FIG. 4B (whichresults in heavily doped body region 414), and the halo implants 550 ofFIG. 5D (which result in halo regions 451-452).

The above-described methods of providing (1) a body doping differential,(2) an LDD doping differential, and (3) halo implant regions can each beused separately to form high end and low end transistors.

For example, method (1) can be used to fabricate a low end transistorhaving a lightly doped body region (like body region 413) and a high endtransistor having a more heavily doped body region (like body region414). In this embodiment, both the low end transistor and the high endtransistor would have similar LDD regions (i.e., either LDD regions431-432, or LDD regions 441-442), and neither the low end transistor northe high end transistor would have halo implants.

Similarly, method (2) can be used to fabricate a low end transistorhaving LDD regions 431-432 and a high end transistor having LDD regions441-442. In this embodiment, both the low end transistor and the highend transistor would have similarly doped body regions (i.e., eithersimilar to body region 413 or body region 414), and neither the low endtransistor nor the high end transistor would have halo implants.

Finally, method (3) can be used to fabricate a low end transistor thatdoes not include halo implant regions, and a high end transistor thatincludes halo implant regions 451-452. In this embodiment, both the lowend transistor and the high end transistor would have similar LDDregions (i.e., either LDD regions 431-432, or LDD regions 441-442), andboth the low end transistor and the high end transistor would havesimilarly doped body regions (i.e., either similar to body region 413 orbody region 414).

In other embodiments, any two of these methods (1), (2) and (3) can becombined to form high end and low end transistors. In yet anotherembodiment, combinations of all three of these methods (1), (2) and (3)can be used to form high end and low end transistors.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating eight possible transistorconstructions 701-708 using the above-described methods, which areranked from the lowest on-resistance/VDS breakdown voltage/thresholdvoltage (transistor construction 701) to the highest on-resistance/VDSbreakdown voltage/threshold voltage (transistor construction 708). Inthe embodiment of FIG. 7, it is assumed that the LDD implants 430 and440 have the highest impact on the transistor characteristics, followedby the doping of body regions 413-414, and then the halo implants 450.Thus, a transistor having the transistor construction 701 will includebody region 413 (low body doping) and LDD regions 431-432 (shallow, highconcentration LDD implant), but will not include the halo implantregions 451-452 (no halo implant). A transistor having the transistorconstruction 708 will include body region 414 (high body doping), LDDregions 441-442 (deep, low concentration LDD implant), and halo implantregions 451-452 (halo implant). The hierarchy of transistorconstructions 701-708 allow for up to eight different types oftransistors to be connected in a single RF switch branch, therebyprecisely optimizing the VDS breakdown voltages of the transistors inthe RF switch branch. It is understood that, as a practical matter, thenumber of different types of transistors constructions used in an RFswitch branch would be limited by the desire to reduce the number ofmasks/processing steps used to fabricate the RF switch branch. It isalso understood that different hierarchies of transistor constructionscould be realized by varying the characteristics (effects) of the bodyimplants, LDD implants and halo implants.

One of the advantages of the present disclosure is to more preciselyoptimize the VDS breakdown voltage of transistors, and under moreprecise control, to achieve a more linear control over VDS breakdownvoltage and on-resistance trade off. Although the present invention hasbeen described in combination with the use of an RF switch branch, it isunderstood that the transistors of the present invention can also beused in other general applications.

From the above description it is manifest that various techniques can beused for implementing the concepts described in the present applicationwithout departing from the scope of those concepts. Moreover, while theconcepts have been described with specific reference to certainimplementations, a person of ordinary skill in the art would recognizethat changes can be made in form and detail without departing from thescope of those concepts. As such, the described implementations are tobe considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Itshould also be understood that the present application is not limited tothe particular implementations described above, but many rearrangements,modifications, and substitutions are possible without departing from thescope of the present disclosure. The present invention is thereforeintended to be limited only by the following claims.

We claim:
 1. A switch comprising: a plurality of field effecttransistors connected in series between a first node and a second node,wherein the plurality of field effect transistors include: a firsttransistor having a first body region having a first conductivity type;and a second transistor having a second body region having the firstconductivity type, wherein the first body region has a dopantconcentration greater than a dopant concentration of the second bodyregion, whereby the first transistor has a higher breakdown voltage thanthe second transistor.
 2. The switch of claim 1, wherein the firsttransistor further includes a first set of lightly doped drain (LDD)regions having a second conductivity type, opposite the firstconductivity type, and the second transistor further includes a secondset of LDD regions having the second conductivity type, wherein thefirst set of LDD regions has a dopant concentration lower than a dopantconcentration of the second set of LDD regions.
 3. The switch of claim2, wherein the first set of LDD regions extend a first depth into thefirst body region and the second set of LDD regions extend a seconddepth into the second body region, wherein the first depth is greaterthan the second depth.
 4. The switch of claim 2, further comprising afirst set of halo implant regions of the first conductivity type locatedbetween the first set of LDD regions and the first body region, whereinthe first set of halo implant regions have a dopant concentrationgreater than the dopant concentration of the first body region.
 5. Theswitch of claim 1, wherein the first and second body regions are locatedon a buried oxide layer.
 6. The switch of claim 1, wherein the firstnode comprises a power amplifier output and the second node comprises anantenna input.
 7. The switch of claim 1, wherein the first transistorhas a first channel length and the second transistor has a secondchannel length, wherein the first channel length is the same as thesecond channel length.
 8. A switch comprising: a plurality of fieldeffect transistors connected in series between a first node and a secondnode, wherein the plurality of field effect transistors include: a firsttransistor having a first set of lightly doped drain (LDD) regionshaving a first conductivity type, and a second transistor having asecond set of LDD regions having the first conductivity type, whereinthe first set of LDD regions has a dopant concentration lower than adopant concentration of the second set of LDD regions, and wherein thefirst transistor has a higher breakdown voltage than the secondtransistor.
 9. The switch of claim 8, wherein the first and secondtransistors include first and second body regions, respectively, eachhaving a second conductivity type, opposite the first conductivity type,wherein the first set of LDD regions extend a first depth into the firstbody region and the second set of LDD regions extend a second depth intothe second body region, wherein the first depth is greater than thesecond depth.
 10. The switch of claim 8, wherein the first transistorincludes a first body region having a second conductivity type, oppositethe first conductivity type, further comprising a first set of haloimplant regions of the second conductivity type located between thefirst set of LDD regions and the first body region.
 11. The switch ofclaim 8, wherein the first and second body regions are located on aburied oxide layer.
 12. The switch of claim 8, wherein the first nodecomprises a power amplifier output and the second node comprises anantenna input.
 13. The switch of claim 8, wherein the first transistorhas a first channel length and the second transistor has a secondchannel length, wherein the first channel length is the same as thesecond channel length.
 14. A switch comprising: a plurality of fieldeffect transistors connected in series between a first node and a secondnode, wherein the plurality of field effect transistors include: a firsttransistor having a first body region having a first conductivity type,a first set of lightly doped drain (LDD) regions having a secondconductivity type, opposite the first conductivity type, and a first setof halo implant regions of the second conductivity type located betweenthe first set of LDD regions and the first body region, and a secondtransistor having a second body region having the first conductivitytype, and a second set of LDD regions having the second conductivitytype, wherein the second transistor does not include halo implantregions located between the second set of LDD regions and the secondbody region, and wherein the first transistor has a higher breakdownvoltage than the second transistor.
 15. The switch of claim 14, whereinthe first set of LDD regions has a dopant concentration lower than adopant concentration of the second set of LDD regions.
 16. The switch ofclaim 15, wherein the first set of LDD regions extend a first depth intothe first body region, and the second set of LDD regions extend a seconddepth into the second body region, wherein the first depth is greaterthan the second depth.
 17. The switch of claim 14, wherein the firstbody region has a dopant concentration equal to a dopant concentrationof the second body region.
 18. The switch of claim 14, wherein the firstand second body regions are located on a buried oxide layer.
 19. Theswitch of claim 14, wherein the first node comprises a power amplifieroutput and the second node comprises an antenna input.
 20. The switch ofclaim 14, wherein the first transistor has a first channel length andthe second transistor has a second channel length, wherein the firstchannel length is the same as the second channel length.
 21. A method offabricating a switch including a first transistor and a secondtransistor coupled in series between a first node and a second node, themethod comprising: forming a first body region having a firstconductivity type and a first dopant concentration; forming a secondbody region having the first conductivity type and a second dopantconcentration, wherein the second dopant concentration is greater thanthe first dopant concentration; forming the first transistor in thefirst body region; forming the second transistor in the second bodyregion, wherein the first body region has a dopant concentration greaterthan a dopant concentration of the second body region, whereby the firsttransistor has a higher breakdown voltage than the second transistor.22. The method of claim 21, further comprising: performing a firstimplant to form a first set of lightly doped drain (LDD) regions of thefirst transistor in the first body region; and performing a secondimplant to form a second set of LDD regions of the second transistor inthe second body region, wherein the first implant has a lower dosagethan the second implant.
 23. The method of claim 22, further comprisingperforming the first implant at a higher implant energy than the secondimplant.
 24. The method of claim 22, further comprising: performing athird implant to form a first set of halo implant regions of the firstconductivity type between the first set of LDD regions and the firstbody region.
 25. The method of claim 24, wherein the first implant andthe third implant are performed through a common mask.
 26. The method ofclaim 21, wherein the first transistor has a first channel length andthe second transistor has a second channel length, wherein the firstchannel length is the same as the second channel length.
 27. A method offabricating a switch including a first transistor and a secondtransistor coupled in series between a first node and a second node, themethod comprising: forming the first transistor in a first body regionhaving a first conductivity type, wherein the first transistor includesa first set of lightly doped drain (LDD) regions having a secondconductivity type, and forming the second transistor in a second bodyregion having the first conductivity type, wherein the second transistorincludes a second set of LDD regions having the second conductivitytype, wherein the first set of LDD regions has a dopant concentrationlower than a dopant concentration of the second set of LDD regions, andwherein the first transistor has a higher breakdown voltage than thesecond transistor.
 28. The method of claim 27, wherein the first set ofLDD regions extend a first depth into the first body region and thesecond set of LDD regions extend a second depth into the second bodyregion, wherein the first depth is greater than the second depth. 29.The method of claim 27, further comprising a first set of halo implantregions of the first conductivity type located between the first set ofLDD regions and the first body region.
 30. The method of claim 27,wherein the first transistor has a first channel length and the secondtransistor has a second channel length, wherein the first channel lengthis the same as the second channel length.
 31. A method of fabricating aswitch including a first transistor and a second transistor coupled inseries between a first node and a second node, the method comprising:forming the first transistor in a first body region having a firstconductivity type, wherein the first transistor includes a first set oflightly doped drain (LDD) regions having a second conductivity type,forming the second transistor in a second body region having the firstconductivity type, wherein the second transistor includes a second setof LDD regions having the second conductivity type; and performing haloimplants having the first conductivity type to the first transistor, butnot the second transistor, wherein the halo implants result in theformation of a set of halo regions between the first set of LDD regionsand the first body regions.
 32. The method of claim 31, furthercomprising: performing a first implant to form the first set of lightlydoped drain (LDD) regions; and performing a second implant to form asecond set of LDD regions, wherein the first implant has a lower dosagethan the second implant.
 33. The method of claim 32, further comprisingperforming the first implant at a higher implant energy than the secondimplant.
 34. The method of claim 31, wherein the first body region has adopant concentration equal to a dopant concentration of the second bodyregion.
 35. The method of claim 31, wherein the first transistor has afirst channel length and the second transistor has a second channellength, wherein the first channel length is the same as the secondchannel length.